Tumbling barrel and drive therefor



July 20, 1965 R. K. LANDON TUMBLING BARREL AND DRIVE THEREFOR Filed Dec. 1, 1961 INVENTOR. ROBERT K. LANDON W ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,1952% TUMBLING BARREL AND DRIVE THEREFOR Robert K. Landon, 6094 Morningside Road,

Joshua Tree, Calif. Filed Dec. 1, 1961. Ser. No. 156,406 4 Claims. (Cl. 51-164) This invention relates to a tumbling barrel for lapidary and other purposes, and to a novel drive system incorporated therein.

An object of the invention is to provide a tumbling barrel and tumbling-barrel drive adapted in a highly simple and effective manner to produce concurrently several types of motion, thereby effecting rapid and efficient tumbling and polishing of the rocks or other objects contained in the apparatus.

A further object is to provide a tumbling-barrel drive which is operative in the complete absence of gears, and which will run very long without repair or replacement in comparison to conventional gear-type tumbler drives.

A further object is to provide a tumbling-barrel drive which is readily adapted to change the speed of rotation, and which incorporates simple and economical elements which may be easily replaced in the event of damage or Wear.

A further object is to provide a tumbling-barrel drive adapted to effect rotation and oscillation and/or wobbling of the barrel, to thereby achieve a more effective tumbling action due to variation or breaking-up of the normal pattern of movement of the rocks or other objects contained in the barrel.

A further object is to provide a tumbling barrel incorporating a novel filter-ring means to prevent abrasive material from contacting and possibly injuring the drive components.

A further object is to provide a tumbling-barrel apparatus which is adapted to operate while tilted from the horizontal, such tilting causing the drive components to be properly engaged and permitting the barrel to be operated while in open condition so that there is no danger of explosion.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be more fully set forth in the following specification and claims, considered in connection with the at tached drawing to which they relate.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view illustrating a tumblingbarrel apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a plan View of the tumbling barrel, illustrating in solid and dashed lines the wobbling action produced by the drive;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIGURE 2, illustrating the means to effect vibration or oscillation of the barrel; and

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIGURE 1 and illustrating filter means for preventing damage to the drive in the event of leakage of abrasive medium from the barrel.

Referring first to FIGURE 1, the apparatus is illustrated to comprise an elongated barrel element the wide end of which is rigidly secured in coaxial relationship on a disc 11 formed of metal or the like. The barrel is hexagonal in section, having sides which converge in a direction away from the disc 11 which forms the base of the barrel. At its end remote from base 11, the barrel is shaped with a neck 12 to which is sealingly secured an annular end element 13 having a central access opening 14 therein. Opening 14 is sufiiciently large to receive the parts, such as rocks, to be tumbled and ground or polished, but insufficiently large to discharge substan- 3,195,279 Patented July 20, 1965 tial quantities of abrasive liquid during operation of the apparatus.

The barrel element 10 may be formed entirely of soft material (such as polyvinyl chloride) and cast or molded in one piece, being bonded to base disc 11. The barrel may also be formed of resin-impregnated fiberglass and lined with suitable material, such as soft polyvinyl chloride.

Base disc 11 may also comprise a separate disc which is axially spaced from the wide or bottom end of the barrel and is connected to the barrel by means of a shaft or shafts. Such a disc, or the above-indicated base disc 11, forms part of the turntable-type drive of the apparatus as will be described in detail subsequently.

The barrel and associated drive apparatus are mounted on an inclined support plate 16 which is associated with leg means 17 adapted to rest on a table or on the floor.

First and second bearings 18 and 19 are mounted on support plate 16 to rotatably support a shaft 21 the upper end of which is fixedly and rigidly connected to the center of base disc 11. Collars 22 and 23 may be fixedly mounted on shaft 21 on opposite sides of the second bearing 19. Such collars are disposed sufficiently far from the bearing 19 to permit axial shifting of the shaft caused by operation of the drive as will be indicated hereinafter.

Third and fourth bearings 26 and 2.7 are mounted on the support plate 16 adjacent the edge of base disc 11. Such bearings are disposed to rotatably support a shaft 23 which extends generally parallel to the rear (downwardly-facing) surface of disc 11 and generally radially thereof. Shaft 28, if extended, would intersect shaft 21 at substantially a right angle. A drive element 29 is mounted on the shaft 28, between bearings 26 and 27, in driving engagement with the peripheral portion of the downwardly-facing rear surface of disc 11.

Rotation of shaft 28 is effected by an electric motor 31 mounted on plate 16, such motor being connected through a small sheave 32, a belt 33 and a large sheave 34 to the shaft 28. The motor may be adapted to operate at 1750 revolutions per minute, but the speed reduction effected by the drive elements effects rotation of the disc 11 in a speed range on the order of 14 to 40 revolutions per minute.

From the above it will be understood that the drive element 29 and disc 11 cooperate in the manner of a turntable-type drive to effect rotation of the barrel 16 about an axis which is substantially coaxial with the shaft 21. Such turntable drive is extremely simple, economical and long-wearing in comparison to conventional tumblingbarrel drives, which normally incorporate gear boxes. Furthermore, the turntable drive produces various important advantages when incorporated in a tumbling barrel apparatus.

One such advantage is that the weight of the stones .or other elements in the barrel provides the proper driving pressure when the axis of the barrel is inclined or tilted upwardly, as illustrated, the angle of inclination being between about thirty and about sixty degrees. Thus, a major portion of the weight of the barrel and contained elements is borne by the bearings 18 and 1%, but a sufficient component of the weight is borne by the drive element 29 to maintain proper frictional driving contact between such element and the rear surface of disc 11. For this reason, and in order to provide proper tumbling action, it is a feature of the invention that the barrel axis is inclined from the horizontal, being neither horizontal nor vertical. Means may be desired to adjust the angle of inclination, for example to make the angle greater when a relatively light charge is contained in the barrel.

A further advantage of the turntable drive is that the speed of rotation may be readily altered, either by adjusting .the position of drive element 29 on shaftZS as previously described, or by replacing the drive element 29 by one having a larger diameter. To permit such replacement, the bearing 27 at the inner end of shaft 28 may be omitted and replaced by a removable collar.

An additional and extremely important advantage of p the turntable drive is that the barrel may be vibrated or oscillated in order to improve greatly the tumbling operation. The improved operation isthouglit to occur because circular paths of the stones or other contained objects are disrupted or broken up. To achieve such oscillations or vibrations, the drive element is formed with fiat portions and/ or is eccentrically mount-ed on its shaft 2/8. The illustrated drive element, shown in FIGURE 3, is mounted eccentrically on the shaft 2%. Furthermore; the drive element is formed as a pentagon having straight faces 36 which merge with each other through rounded edges or corners 37. Preferably, the drive element is formedof soft (and thus deformable) polyvinyl chloride.

In addition to the rotational and vibrational or oscil latory movement imparted to the tumbling barrel by the above-described drive, a wobbling and axial-shifting action may be provided. This is achieved by mounting the base disc 11 at other than a right angle relative to its shaft 21, as shown in FIGURE 2. It follows that the drum or barrel wobbles between the illustrated solid-line and dash-line positions, with accompanying axial shifting of the shaft 2-1 in its bearings 18 and 19. The collars 22 and 23 on the shaft 21 are disposed sufficiently far apart that they will not interfere with this axial shifting nor with the previously described vibrations or oscillations effected by element 29.

Since the barrel operates while in tilted condition, there is no necessity for closing or sealing the access opening 14. it follows that such opening may also serve as a vent to eliminate any danger of gas explosions. It has been found, however, that inexperienced operators may introduce into the barrel excessive amounts of abrasive liquid, so that during operation such liquid runs out the access opening and down the sides of the barrel. Such liquid may foul the drive element 29 and even the belt 33.

To prevent damage to the apparatus in the event of overloading thereof with abrasive liquid, a filter collar or protective element 38 is provided as illustrated in FIG- URES 1 and 4. Such collar is mounted around the entire periphery of neck 12 adjacent the annular element 13, being formed of foam or sponge rubber. The major portion 39 of the collar has large pores or openings, as schematically indicated in FIGURE'4, but the rear face 40 (relatively adjacent base disc 11) has smaller pores or openings.

Any abrasive liquid whichruns down the face of element 13 enters the large-pore region 39. It is then filtered through the large-pore region 39 and also through the small-pore region 46 so that any liquid (such as water) which passes completely through the filter collar'is free of abrasive It follows that such liquid will not damage the driving components of the apparatus.

In operation, it is merely necessary to charge the apparatus with stones and abrasive liquid, set the drive ele ment 29 for the desired rotational speed, and start the motor 31 to. rotate the drum for the required length of time. Drum rotation should be continuous, the operation frequently lasting for a substantial number of days.

abrasive materials, may be employed to effect rough and polish grinding of the stones or other objects. After the operationis completed, the entire apparatus is tipped so that the access opening 14 faces downwardly to discharge the liquidand the finished objects.

Various embodiments of the present invention, in addition to what has been illustrated and described in detail, may be employed without departing from the scope of the accompanying claims.

Different operations, at different speeds and with different I 'b'ea'ringmeans to rotatably support a journal portion of said shaft,

said bearing means being adapted to permit translationalmovement of said' journal portion therein in a direction axially of said shaft and in response to the weight of said turnblingbarrel and the objects therein,

a largeediameter drive element connected to said tum- 'bling barrel and generally coaxial'with said shaft,

said large-diameter drive element having a relatively smooth friction drive surface which is oblique to the axis of rotation of said tumbling barrel,

a small-diameter drive element having a small-diameter friction drive surface-frictionally engaged with said friction-drive surface of said large-diameter drive element at a point spaced asubst-antial distance from the axis of rotation thereof,

said small-diameter drive element serving to frictionally drive said large-diameter drive element and thus said tumbling barrel in the absence of gears, said small-diameter drive element being positioned to effect limitation of said translational movement of said journal portion of said shaft in said axial direction, whereby the pressure of the frictional engagement between said friction drive surfaces varies in proportion to the combined weight of the objects contained. within said tumbling barrel, and motor means to effect rotation of said small-diameter drive element, whereby driving. of said large-diameter drive element bysaid small-diameter drive element effects wobbling of said tumbling barrel and accompanying axial movement of said journal portion in said bearing means.

2. A tumbling barrel apparatus, which comprises:

a tumbling barrel adapted to contain objects to be treated,

a shaft connected to said tumbling barrel to rotatably support the same,.

bearing means to rotatably support a journal portion of said shaft,

said bearing means being adapted to permit translational movement of said journal portion therein in a direction axially of said shaft and in response to the weight of said tumbling barrel and the objects therein,

a large-diameter drive element connected to said tumbling barrel and generally coaxial with said shaft,

said large-diameter drive element havinga relatively smooth friction drive surface which is oblique to the axis of rotation of said tumbling barrel,

a smaP-diarneterdrive element having a small-diameter friction drive surface frictionally engaged with said friction drive surface of said large-diameter drive element at a point spaced a substantial distance from the axis of rota-tion'thereof,

said small-diameter drive element serving to frict-ionally drive said large-diameter drive element and thus said tumbling barrel in the absence of gears, i i

said small-diameter drive element being positioned to effect limitation of said translational movementof said journal portion of said shaft in said axial direction, whereby the pressure of the frictional engagement between said friction drive surfaces varies in proportion to the combined weight of the objects contained within said tumbling barrel,

said small-diameter drive element being shaped to vibrate said large-diameter drive element in response to said rotation of said small-diameter drive element, and

motor means to effect rotation of said small-diameter drive element, whereby driving of said large-diameter drive element by said small-diameter drive element effects wobbling of said tumbling barrel and accompanying axial movement of said journal portion in said bearing means, and also effects vibrating of said tumbling barrel.

3. A tumbling barrel apparatus, which comprises:

a first shaft,

bearing means to rota tably and slidably mount said first shaft on an incline relative to the horizontal,

stop means provided on said first shaft on apposite sides of said bearing means,

at least one of said stop means being substantially spaced from said bearing means at all times whereby to permit axial sliding movement of said first shaft in said bearing means,

a drive disc fixedly mounted on said first shaft generally coaxially thereof,

said drive disc having a gearless frictional drive surface,

a tumbling barrel fixedly connected on said first shaft generally coaxially thereof,

a second shaft mounted generally parallel to and ad jacent the downwardly-facing surface of said drive disc,

said second shaft extending generally radially of said drive disc,

bearing means to mount said second shaft for rotation about the longitudinal axis thereof,

motor means to rotate said second shaft about said longitudinal axis thereof, and

a drive element mounted on said second shaft for rotation thereby,

said drive element frictionally engaging said frictional drive surface of said drive disc whereby said drive disc and thus said tumbling barrel are rotated bytsaid drive element in the manner of a turntable drive,

the peripheral portion of said drive element being a soft material at least substantial portions of which are eccentric relative to the axis of rotation of said second shaft whereby rotation of said drive element further effects vibration of said drive disc and tumbling barrel in response to rotation of said second shaft, said vibration being permitted by the spacing between said stop means on said first shaft and said bearing means therefor, said spacing further permitting the degree of frictional drive between said drive element and said frictional drive surface to be varied in response to the weight of the objects contained within said tumbling barrel.

4. A tumbling barrel apparatus, which comprises:

a tumbling barrel adapted to contain objects to be treated,

a shaft connected to said tumbling barrel to rotatably support the same,

6 bearing means to rotatably support a journal portion of said shaft,

said bearing means being adapted to permit movement of said journal portion in a predetermined direction and in response to the weight of said tumbling barrel and the objects contained therein, a large-diameter drive element connected to said tumbling barrel and generally coaxial with said shaft,

said large-diameter drive element having a largediameter friction drive surface which is generally coaxial with the axis of rotation of said tumbling barrel, and driving and vibrating means to effect both rotational driving and oscillatory vibration of said large-diameter friction drive surface whereby to simultaneously rotate and vibrate the objects within said barrel,

said driving and vibrating means comprising a small-diameter drive element having a smalldiameter friction drive surface frictionally engaged with said large-diameter friction drive surface at a point spaced a substantial distance from the axis of rotation thereof,

said small-diameter drive element having peripheral driving portions eccentric to the axis of rotation thereof, said small-diameter drive element serving to frictionally and rotationally drive said large-diameter drive element and thus said tumbling barrel in the absence of gears, said small-diameter drive element being positioned to effect limitation of said movement of said journal portion of said shaft in said predetermined direction, whereby the pressure of the frictional engagement between said friction drive surfaces varies in proportion to the combined weight of the objects contained Within said tumbling barrel, said driving and vibrating means further comprising motor means to effect rotation of said smalldiameter drive element to thus effect said friction driving of said large-diameter drive element and also said vibration of said tumbling barrel.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 462,841 11/91 Henderson.

814,166 3/06 Schroeder.

821,483 5/06 Graham 51164 1,182,993 5/16 Decks 215100.5 1,331,739 2/20 Becker 51164 X 1,337,716 4/20 Maddox.

1,759, 176 5/30 Voorhees 215100.5 1

2,606,407 8/52 Banks et al 51-164 2,650,033 8/53 Ahlmann.

2,721,426 10/55 Vincent 51164 2,809,473 10/57 Heaphy 51-164 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,043,857 11/58 Germany.

LESTER M. SWINGLE, Primary Examiner. JOHN C. CHRISTIE, Examiner. 

3. A TUMBLING BARREL APPARATUS, WHICH COMPRISES: A FIRST SHAFT, BEARING MEANS TO ROTATABLY AND SLIDABLY MOUNT SAID FIRST SHAFT ON AN INCLINE RELATIVE TO THE HORIZONTAL, STOP MEANS PROVIDED ON SAID FIRST SHAFT ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID BEARING MEANS, AT LEAST ONE OF SAID STOP MEANS BEING SUBSTANTIALLY SPACED FROM SAID BEARING MEANS AT ALL TIMES WHEREBY TO PERMIT AXIAL SLIDING MOVEMENT OF SAID FIRST SHAFT IN SAID BEARING MEANS, A DRIVE DISC FIXEDLY MOUNTED ON SAID FIRST SHAFT GENERALLY COAXIALLY THEREOF, SAID DRIVE DISC HAVING A GEARLESS FRICTIONAL DRIVE SURFACE, A TUMBLING BARREL FIXEDLY CONNECTED ON SAID FIRST SHAFT GENERALLY COAXIALLY THEREOF, A SECOND SHAFT MOUNTED GENERALLY PARALLEL TO AND ADJACENT THE DOWNWARDLY-FACING SURFACE OF SAID DRIVE DISC, SAID SECOND SHAFT EXTENDING GENERALLY RADIALLY OF SAID DRIVE DISC, BEARING MEANS TO MOUNT SAID SECOND SHAFT FOR ROTATION ABOUT THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS THEREOF, MOTOR MEANS TO ROTATE SAID SECOND SHAFT ABOUT SAID LONGITUDINAL AXIS THEREOF, AND A DRIVE ELEMENT MOUNTED ON SAID SECOND SHAFT FOR ROTATION THEREBY, SAID DRIVE ELEMENT FRICTIONALLY ENGAGING SAID FRICTIONAL DRIVE SURFACE OF SAID DRIVE DISC WHEREBY SAID DRIVE DISC AND THUS SAID TUMBLING BARREL ARE ROTATED BY SAID DRIVE ELEMENT IN THE MANNER OF A TURNTABLE DRIVE, THE PERIPHERAL PORTION OF SAID DRIVE ELEMENT BEING A SOFT MATERIAL AT LEAST SUBSTANTIAL PORTIONS OF WHICH ARE ECCENTRIC RELATIVE TO THE AXIS OF ROTATION OF SAID SECOND SHAFT WHEREBY ROTATION OF SAID DRIVE ELEMENT FURTHER EFFECTS VIBRATION OF SAID DRIVE DISC AND TUMBLING BARREL IN RESPONSE TO ROTATION OF SAID SECOND SHAFT, SAID VIBRATION BEING PERMITTED BY THE SPACING BETWEEN SAID STOP MEANS ON SAID FIRST SHAFT AND SAID BEARING MEANS THEREFOR, SAID SPACING FURTHER PERMITTING THE DEGREE OF FRICTIONAL DRIVE BETWEEN SAID DRIVE ELEMENT AND SAID FRICTIONAL DRIVE SURFACE TO BE VARIED IN RESPONSE TO THE WEIGHT OF THE OBJECTS CONTAINED WITHIN SAID TUMBLING BARREL. 